South Korea’s new Vatican ambassador pledges full support for peace on Korean Peninsula, hops Pope’s 2027 Korea visit during WYD will include North Korea.
Newsroom (05/11/2025, Gaudium Press ) South Korea’s newly appointed ambassador to the Holy See, Stefano Shin Hyung-sik, has pledged his full commitment to supporting the Vatican’s peace initiatives on the Korean Peninsula and vowed to strengthen ties with North Korea.
“I will do my best for peace on the Korean Peninsula,” Shin said in an exclusive interview.
Appointed on Oct. 29, Shin is scheduled to depart for the Vatican on Nov. 6. He will succeed Oh Hyun-Joo, the first Catholic woman to hold the post since 2023.
A graduate of Seoul National University’s Department of Sociology, Shin earned his master’s and doctorate in political science from Kyonggi University. His career includes roles as secretary-general of the Future Policy Institute and the Asian Democracy Network, adjunct professor of international area studies at Pukyong National University, director of the Institute for the Memorial of the Democratization Movement, and president of the National Sovereignty Research Institute.
Shin described Pope Leo XIV’s planned visit to South Korea for World Youth Day (WYD) 2027 as “a decisive diplomatic opportunity to revive the momentum for dialogue for peace on the Korean Peninsula.”
“If the pope also visits North Korea at this time, I have no doubt that it will be a decisive opportunity to ease tensions in the region,” he added.
In October, a delegation of South Korean lawmakers delivered a formal letter to the Vatican urging the pope to visit North Korea during his 2027 trip. In July, President Lee Jae Myung made a similar appeal.
Shin expressed his ambition to serve as a “bridge” to foster trust and achieve concrete progress among the Vatican, the Korean Church, and North Korean authorities.
Describing the Korean Peninsula as “the world’s only divided nation,” Shin underscored the “important mission” of advocating for peace and reconciliation with the Vatican’s diplomatic backing.
The Korean War, which raged from 1950 to 1953, ended with an armistice on July 27, 1953. No peace treaty was signed, leaving the two Koreas technically at war. The conflict, one of the 20th century’s deadliest, claimed an estimated 4 million lives and displaced up to 10 million people.
Shin noted that Pope Leo is deeply concerned about Korean Peninsula peace and hopes to meet North Korean youth. He expressed optimism that such a meeting could occur on the sidelines of WYD 2027.
Preparations for the 2027 Seoul World Youth Day remain Shin’s top priority. “To this end, we will work closely with each department, including the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, which is the competent department,” he said.
Shin emphasized that WYD transcends the Catholic Church, serving as “an event that can send a message of peace and solidarity to the world.” He confirmed that the church, government, and civil society will collaborate in consultations to secure necessary government support.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
Related Images:
